Perpetual calendar with built-in tabulator



July 23, 1963 s. F. ELWOOD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH BUILT-IN TABULATOR Filed Nov. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sam E Elwood INVENTOR.

odflwvfim July 23, 1963 s. F. ELWOOD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH BUILT-IN TABULATOR Filed Nov. 15. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sam E Elwo od 1N VENTOR Attorney:

July 23, 1963 s. F. ELWOOD PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH BUILT-IN TABULA'I'OR July 23, 1963 s. F. ELWOOD 3,098,310

PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH BUILT-IN TABULATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 15, 1961 BY ,kmmik.

WWW mg United States Patent 3,098,310 PERPETUAL CALENDAR WITH BUILT-IN TABULATQR Sam F. Elwood, R0. Box 2612, Sacramento 12, Calif. Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,527 7 filaims. (Cl. 40-107) The present invention generally relates to a perpetual calendar having a built-in tabulator and represents an improvement on co-pending application Serial No. 52,860, filed on August 30, 1960, for a Perpetual Calendar Assembly.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a perpetual calendar with a built-in tabulator having a range from the year 1753, the first full year following the last adjustment of the calendar in October 1752 until a subsequent change in the present calendar at some unknown future date. Thus, it can be said that the range of the perpetual calendar of the present invention is unlimited since five century arrangements are shown and since the calendar repeats itself every four hundred years.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a perpetual calendar machine having seven calendar plates associated therewith having tab markings thereon in which one side of the calendar plate will be for a regular year and the opposite side of the calendar plate will be for a leap year.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a perpetual calendar having manually operable indicator Wheels for enabling the year date to be dialed, which also will automatically dial the desired information to indicate the calendar plate to be used and provide indicia for guiding the person using the device in the operation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a perpetual calendar machine in accordance with the preceding objects which is relatively simple in construction, easy to operate, compact, neat in appearance and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the perpetual calendar machine of the present invention;

FIGURE 2. is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating .the storage of the calendar plates and the orientation of the tabulating mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded elevational view of the tabulati-ng mechanism with portions thereof broken away and reorientated for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view of the tabulator mechanism illustrating the orientation of the components thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the drive mechanism for the tabulator;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the indicator wheels and mask assemblies mounted thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a partial plan View illustrating another relative position of the indicator wheels;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the relationship of the indicator wheel;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of two indicator wheels in their assembled condition with the mask disposed thereon;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the operating member for rotating the tabulating indicator wheels.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the perpetual calendar machine of the present invention including a generally hol low cabinet 12 having a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a rear wall 18, and a front wall 20 disposed in inclined relation to the back wall 18 and including a short vertical portion 22 at the bottom edge thereof. The aforementioned Walls are interconnected by end Walls 24, with one end wall 24 having an enlarged opening 26 therein, with a closure door 28 therefor hingedly attached to the rear edge of the opening 26 by a hinge 30 and provided with 'a knob 32 for opening and closing the closure door 28 which may be provided with a suitable friction latch or any other suitable latch for retaining the closure door in closed position.

The bottom 16 is provided with a plurality of semispherical feet 32' or the like and the upper surface of the bottom 16 is provided with an insert 34 having a plurality of grooves 36 therein which are in alignment with grooves 38 in a top insert 40 carried by a partition bracket or plate 42. The grooves 36 and 38 sli-dably receive vertically disposed calendar plates 44, and as illustrated in FIGURE 2 there are seven calendar plates numbered from O to 6, with the insert 40' having numerical indicia 46 thereon designating the particular slot for a particular calendar plate or card 44.

The front wall 26 is provided with a recess 48 closed by an offset wall 50 for forming a pocket for receiving the calendar plates 44. The bottom edges of the recess 48 is provided with an aperture 52 through which a spring catch 54 extends having a rounded end 56 engaging the bottom edge of the calendar plate 44. Thus, the rounded end 56 of the spring catch 54 will engage the bottom edge of the calendar plate 44, thus locking the calendar plate 44 within the recess so that it may be easily observed by persons using the machine of the present invention.

The spring catch 54 is carried by a supporting bracket 58 attached to the bottom 16 by virtue of a fastener 60. Also, an ejection plunger 62 is provided adjacent the bottom edge of the calendar plate 44 and the ejection plunger 62 is slidably received in a tubular member 64 having a removable cap 66 thereon. The plunger 62 is provided 'With a knob 68 on the outer end thereof for operation and a collar 70 on the interior of the sleeve 64, thus guiding movement of the plunger 62. Thus, when the calendar plate 44 is placed in the recess, the plunger will be forced inwardly and the bottom edge of the calendar plate will engage the spring catch which will retain the calendar plate 44 releasably within the recess 48. By pushing the plunger 62 inwardly by engaging the knob 68 which is accessib le through the opening 26, the bottom edge of the calendar plate will be forced outwardly and released from the spring catch 54 wherein the calendar plate may then be removed and replaced with another calendar plate or inverted so that the opposite side thereof is facing outwardly.

Disposed along the top edge of the front wall 20 above the recess 48 is a slot 72 and a slot 74 in alignment therewith in which the slot 74 is generally in the center of the top edge of the front wall and indicates the year date, while the slot 72 reveals indicia employed in conjunction with the calender plate. On the opposite side of the slot 74 from the slot 72 is a plurality of operating members 76, 78 and 80, each of which has indicia associated therewith indicating centuries, decades and years, respectively, and each of which has a crossed slot 82 therein for receiving an implement such as a screwdriver 84 illustrated in FIGURE 10 having a shank 86 with a driving head 88 with a crossed projection 89 thereon for engagement with the crossed slots 82. This arrangement may be the same or substantially the same as a Phillips screw and screwdriver assembly whereby the tool or screwdriver 84 is required for operating the tabulator from the front surface of the top wall, thereby enabling the year date and other indicia appearing through the slot 72 to be changed as desired or required by the particular use of the invention.

Disposed above the partition wall 42 is an elongated shaft 90 supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets 92 carried by reinforcement members or brackets 94 overlying the partition plate 42 and secured to the back Wall 18 by screw threaded fasteners 96. The rear portions of the brackets or supports 92 are formed as diverging legs 96 and 98 which are also secured to a reinforcing member or bracket 100 attached to the rear Wall 18 by screw threaded fasteners 102. Disposed in spaced and eircumferentially arranged relation to the shaft 90 is a plurality of shafts 104, 106 and 108. The shafts 104 and 106 are supported from laterally extending supports 110 carried by the leg 98 and disposed to each side thereof, while the shaft 108 is supported by a laterally extending leg 112 on the leg 94 of .the bracket 92, thus forming a rigid support for the various shafts inasmuch as there are a plurality of supporting brackets 92 spaced longitudinal-1y thereof.

For purposes of clarity in describing the invention, FIGURE 3 is an exploded elevational view in which the shafts 104, 106 and 108 have been displaced to be disposed above and below the shaft 90, with FIGURES 4 and illustrating the actual relationship of the shafts to each other.

Mounted on the shaft 90 are three large gears 114, 116 and 118. Each of the gears has rigidly affixed thereto at the center thereof a bevel gear designated by numerals 120,122 and 124. In meshing engagement with the bevel gears 120, 122 and 124 is a bevel gear 126, 128 and 130, respectively, each of which are rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 90 and each of which is carried by a shaft 132 journalled in a supporting bracket 134 supported by the reinforcing member 94 with the shaft 132 being in rigid engagement with one of the members 76, 78 and 80, whereby rotation of the members 76, 78 and 80 will cause rotation of the gears 118, 116 and 114, respectively, at a reduced rate of rotation in view of the gear reduction provided through the bevel gears and due to the smaller gear engaged by the larger gears 114-118 as described hereinafter.

Each of the gears 114, 1-16 and 118 has a radially extending lug 136 thereon forming a stop for engagement with an abutment 138 carried by suitable brackets 140 whereby the rotational movement of the gears 114-118 is limited.

Mounted on the shaft 104 is a small gear 142 in meshing engagement with the gear 114. Oarried on the shaft 108 is a small gear 144 in meshing engagement with the gear 116 and carried on the shaft 106 is a small gear 146 in meshing engagement with the gear 118 whereby the shafts 104, 106 and 108 will be rotated depending upon which of the operating members 76, 78 and 80 are operated by the tool 84. The limit stops limit the travel of the dialing wheels which are geared to the drive wheels.

Disposed on the shaft 90 in longitudinally spaced relation to the gears 114 and 118 are three indicator wheels including a year wheel 148, a decade wheel 150 and a century wheel 152. Disposed to the right of the year wheel 148 is an enlarged gear 154 in meshing engagement with a small gear 156 carried by the shaft 104. Disposed intermediate the decade wheel 150 and the century wheel 152 is a large gear 158 in meshing engagement with a small gear 160 carried by the shaft 108. To the left of the century Wheel 152 is a large gear 162 in meshing engagement with the small gear 164 on the shaft 106. The century wheel 152 is provided with a wider portion 166 which partially covers the gear 158 and provides suificient width to have two numerals thereon for indicating the centuries. The gears 154, 158 and 162 respectively are pinned to the wheels 148, .150 and 152 respectively by diametrically disposed pins 168 for rotation therewith whereby the wheels 148, 150 and 152 will be rotated in response to rotation of the operating members 80, 78 and 76 respectively.

Disposed in longitudinally spaced relation to the gear 162 is a plurality of gears 170, 172 and 174. The gear 170 is in meshing engagement with a gear 176 on the shaft 108, the gear 176 having a spacer 178 connected thereto. The gears 160 and 176 are mounted directly on the shaft 108 as are gears 144 and 190.

The gear 172 is in meshing engagement with a smaller gear 180 carried directly on the shaft 104 for rotation therewith and the gear 174 is in meshing engagement with a gear 182 carried directly on the shaft 106. At the end of the shaft 90 another set of gears 184, 186 and 188 are provided, with the gear 184 being in meshing engagement with a smaller gear 190 on the shaft 108, the gear 186 being in meshing engagement with a smaller gear 192 on the shaft 106 and the gear 188 being in meshing engagement with a smaller gear 194 on the shaft 104.

Disposed on the shaft 90 and intermediate the gears 174 and 184 is a plurality of indicator wheels designed by reference numerals 196 198, 200, 204 and 206. These indicating wheels are also designated respectively as follows for purposes of explanation as C Y D Y C and D Also, the indicator Wheels 148, 150 and 152 are designated as Y D and C The gear 174 is pinned to the wheel 196 by pins 208, while the gear 206 is pinned to the gear 184 by pins 210. The wheel 198 and gear 172 are secured together by virtue of a sleeve 173 extending through the gear 174 and the wheel 196 and rotatable on a sleeve 175 rotatable on the shaft 90 and the gear 186 and the indicator wheel 204 are connected together in the same manner. The gear 170 and wheel 200 are connected by sleeve 175 and the gear 188 is connected to wheel 202 in the same manner whereby the shaft may remain stationary.

When it is desired to determine the date in some particular month of a particular year, the tool is employed for rotating the years, decades and century operating members until the desired year date is dialed and revealed through the central slot. The indicia revealed through the slot towards the left edge of the front wall will indicate which of the calendar cards is to be removed from the container and placed in the recess provided therefor so that a calendar for that complete year will be observed. FIGURE 7 illustrates such an arrangement in which the mask attached to certain of the wheels will cover certain of the indicia in certain positions and enable certain of the indicia to be revealed, thus indicating the card to be used.

There are seven calendar plates which have tab markings zero through six and each plate will have on one side the regular year and on the opposite side the leap year.

The first day of the year and the corresponding tab will be as follows:

Plate 0 R0 Monday L0 Sunday Plate 1 R1 Tuesday Ll Monday Plate 2 R2 Wednesday L2 Tuesday Plate 3 R3 Thursday L3 Wednesday Plate 4 R4 Friday L4 Thursday Plate R5 Saturday L5 Friday Plate 6 R6 Sunday L6 Saturday The letter R in the tabs denotes a regular year, while the letter L denotes a leap year. To obtain the calendar plate tab for any year, the numerals following the letters R or L are totaled. Should this total be 7 or more, the multiple of 7 is subtracted; for example:

Note in FIGURE 7, for the year 1961, the visible tabs are R5+-1=R'6: from the calendar plate tab markings shown in columns 4 and 5, it will be seen that the first day of this year came on Sunday.

Also shown in FIGURE 7, for the year .1850 the visible tabs are R6+2=R8-7=R1; and for the year 2072 the visible tabs are L3+3+6 =L12I7=L15.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is clm'med as new is as follows:

1. A perpetual calendar machine comprising a hollow casing having an inclined front wall, said front Wall including a generally rectangular recessed portion covering the major portion of the surface thereof for receiving calendar cards, spring means mounted in the front Wall for engaging the bottom edge of the calendar cards for retaining the calendar cards in position, and means for ejecting the cards from the recess portion of the front wall, said spring means for retaining the calendar card in position including a spring clip having a rounded edge engaging substantially the entire length of the bottom edge of the calendar card, means mounting the clip from the interior of the casing.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for ejecting the calendar card includes a plunger, means mounting the plunger interiorly of the casing for movement inwardly and outwardly thereof in perpendicular relation thereto, said plunger being disposed adjacent the bottom edge for ejecting the calendar card, and spring means interconnecting the plunger and its mount ing means for biasing said plunger inwardly of the casing.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said casing is provided with an enlarged hollow interior, an openable closure door in one end of the casing providing access to the interior thereof and providing access to the ejecting plunger.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the interior of said casing includes an upper and lower memher having a plurality of inwardly facing grooves formed therein, and a plurality of calendar cards slidably received in said grooves.

5. In a perpetual calendar, a casing, a plurality of calendar cards provided with a year calendar each calen- (tar card being further provided with identifying indicia adjacent one top corner thereof and adapted to be displayed on said casing, said casing being provided with indicator dials in the top thereof, a front wall of said casing having a slot for revealing a portion of the peripheral surface of the indicator dials, each indicator dial having numerical indicia thereon for designating a year date, and means accessible from the exterior of the easing for rotating the indicating dials, thus indicating a year date centrally above the recessed portion of the front wall, a plurality of indicating dials spaced from and operatively connected to the year date indicating dials and operable simultaneously therewith for indicating and designating the year card to 'be employed by showing the particular identifying indicia on the card for the particular year dialed, said front wall having an opening therein revealing a portion of the periphery of the plurality of these indicating dials which carry the particular identifying indica.

'6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said means accessible exteriorly of the casing for rotating the indicating dials includes a plurality of rotatable members disposed substantially flush with an inclined surface of the front wall of said casing and being operatively connected to the indicator dials, each of said members having a recess therein, and a hand opera-ted tool having a head comparable in shape and size to the recesses for selectively interlocking with the recesses for rotating the indicator dials.

7. In a perpetual calendar, a casing, indicator dials disposed in said casing, a front wall of said casing having a slot for revealing .a portion of the peripheral surface of the indicator dials, each indicator dial having numerical indicia thereon for designating a year date, means accessible from the exterior of the casing for rotating the indicator dials, and a plurality of indicating dials spaced from and .operatively connected to the year date indicating dials and operable simultaneously therewith for indicating and designating a particular calendar to be dis played on said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,785,640 McNamara 'Dec. 16-, 1930 2,588,795 Bauer Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 239,035 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1935 

1. A PERPETUAL CALENDER MACHINE COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING HAVING AN INCLINED FRONT WALL, SAID FRONT WALL INCLUIDING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR RECESSED PORTION COVERING THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE SURFACE OPF RECEIVING CALENDER CARDS, SPRING MEANS MOUNTED IN THE FRONT WALL FOR ENGAGED THE BOTTON EDGE OF THE CALENDER CARDS FOR RETAINING THE CALENDAR CARDS IN POSITION, AND MEANS FOR EJECTING THE CARDS FROM THE RECESS PORTION OF THE FRONT WALL, SAID SPRING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE CALENDAR CARD IN POSITION INCLUDING A SPRING CLIP HAVING A ROUNDED EDGE ENGAGING SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE CALENDAR CARD, MEANS MOUNTING THE CLIP FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CASING. 